Recreational & Family - Question about bike rack for family

I'd like for my family to get more into biking together. We have 4 bikes. It would be fun to travel to outstate trails, but right now we have a Rhode Gear rear bike rack w/ straps that seems to create a barrier for getting us motivated to load on the bikes and go!

I've been thinking of a hitch bike rack. I know that THULE, Yakima and Saris are popular brands, but the price range is pretty wide. This is one I've been looking at: http://www.bikerackshops.com/TUPARKWAY.html, but I'm wondering if I'll be disappointed with the quality on the low-end of the price range.

Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

Getting 4 bikes onto the racks appears to be somewhat of pain from what I have read. It seems that you have to position the bikes just so to make them fit and they end up banging into each other unless you put spacers and lash them down well. I am only repeating what I have read. Someone may chime in to say different.

I can't say that one will be better over the other.

I think all the 4 bike hitch racks require a 2" receiver, but I could be wrong. Make sure your vehicle can take the tongue weight of all those bikes. It should not be a problem with the tongue weight but it may lower your rear such that you hit alot more things. I would expect you would be close to 200lbs total with the bikes and rack. That is assuming you already have a hitch.

Roof mounting has its pros and cons. But it does not sound like you are interested in that route.

thanks masiman. good point about the weight. we have a subaru forester and will be adding a new hitch. we dealt with rubbing together of the bikes with our old bike rack...i'd love to find a rack that doesn't require so many bungee cords, but maybe that's the reality of the beast.

I have one of these in a two bike and love it-Hollywood-Racks-HR1400-Platform(This is the 4 bike model).

I got mine from Amazon(free shipping, also).

I've got this 2 bike version:
http://www.bikerackshops.com/TU912K.html
Recently took a 350 mile (one way) trip with our bikes on it. It worked great.

There's also a 4 bike version:
http://www.bikerackshops.com/TU914K.html
which it sounds like you'd need. I can't tell a lot of difference between these
and the one you are looking at aside from the latches that let the rack fold down and out.

keep an eye on chainlove.com and bonktown.com.

Recently they've been having Yakima racks on there for about 50% off.

I was wrong about the 2" receiver and that all 4 bike hitch racks required that. Although, I'd still recommend a 2" hitch for your car. They sell adapters to let you fit things that require a 1.25" receiver but I don't think they have them the other way 1.25 to 2 , I could be wrong on that too :). Having the 2" will give you options for either.

I think this is a good deal on a 4 bike rack, but I am not current on their pricing.Thule 4 bike hitch rack (http://www.nashbar.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10053_10052_255022_-1_201352__201348)

you never regret buying quality

Check your local craigslist page. I see hitch-mounted racks for sale all the time in my area.

Thanks everyone for the input. Craigslist is a good idea. I could get rid of my old Rhode Gear rack there.